Monday, March 23rd

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for Monday, March 23rd--  On this day, back in 1963 -- The Academy hosts a seminar devoted to “the airplane in the space age.” Speakers included representatives of the Boeing Company, the NASA Flight Research Center, and the Aeronautical Systems Division.  …Also on this day, back in 2018 -- The Academy ice hockey team beats St. Cloud State by a score of 4-1 in the NCAA tournament first-round game played in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. St. Cloud had the top seed in the sixteen-team tournament, and the win marked the first time in school history...

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Weekend of March 21st and 22nd

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for the Weekend of March 21st and 22nd --  On this day, back in 1979 -- Lieutenant General Richard Lawson speaks on leadership and professionalism in Arnold Hall.  The appearance was sponsored by the Cadet Forum on Public Affairs.  …Also this weekend, back in 1996 -- The Space Shuttle orbiter Atlantis journeys into space, with three Air Force Academy graduates on board.  Ronald Sega, Class of ’74, was payload commander of mission STS-76, which Kevin Chilton, Class of ’76, commanded, and Richard Searfoss, Class of ’78, piloted.  This was the sixth Space Shuttle mission with three Academy grads.  …all content for the Academy History Update is provided by Retired Lt Col Steve...

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Friday, March 20th

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for Friday, March 20th --   On this day, back in 1992 -- President George H. W. Bush presents the 1991 Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy to members of the Academy football team in a White House ceremony.  The event took place in the Roosevelt Room.  …Also on this day, back in 2012 -- The artificial turf glider landing strip at the airfield is unveiled.  The turf measured 1.41 million square feet, (430 feet wide and 3,000 feet long, the equivalent of 23 football fields).  It was thought to be the largest single installation of synthetic turf in the world.  … For more information about what’s coming up and what’s going down at the Academy, listen to our cadet radio station...

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Thursday, March 19th

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for Thursday, March 19th --   On this day, back in 1943 -- Lieutenant General Henry “Hap” Arnold is promoted to four-star rank, a first for the Army Air Forces.  General Arnold is the namesake of the Academy Cadet Area’s social center and the exemplar for the Academy Class of ’12.    …Also on this day, back in 2012 -- The Superintendent, Lieutenant General Mike Gould, Class of ‘76, receives the Order of the Sword.  The Order of the Sword was presented by enlisted members to officers they felt epitomized officership.  …for a behind-the-scenes look at cadet life, follow us on Instagram at AF_Academy! 

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Wednesday, March 18th

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for Wednesday, March 18th --  On this day, back in 1971 -- The Academy hosts the 27th NCAA Fencing Championships at the Cadet Gymnasium.  The three-day competition drew 118 athletes.  …Also on this day, back in 2002 -- The Truman Lecture Series continues with an Arnold Hall Theater speech by U.S. Representative Heather Wilson, Class of ’82.  The New Mexico legislator spoke on “Professional Military Leadership.”  The Series was sponsored by the Association of Graduates and the Falcon Foundation.  …for recent photos of cadet activities, follow us on FLICKR @ AF_Academy! 

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Tuesday, March 17th

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for Tuesday, March 17th --  On this day, back in 1980 – Retired General Curtis LeMay speaks to faculty and staff members in Fairchild Hall.  His visit was part of the Distinguished Professionals in Residence Program sponsored by the Department of History.  …Also on this day, back in 2007 -- The Academy ice hockey team beats Army 6-1 to win the Atlantic Hockey Association championship and qualify for the 16-team NCAA hockey tournament.  The team was the first service academy hockey team to win a conference title and to play in the NCAA tournament.  …for the latest video for cadets, by cadets, follow us on YouTube @ USAFAOfficial.

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Monday, March 16th

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for Monday, March 16th --  On this day, back in 1955 -- Lieutenant Colonel B. A. Scarbrough of the Air Force Academy Construction Agency signs a letter to the Academy architects, Skidmore, Owings and Merrill.  Among other things, the letter addressed basic water rights under the laws of the State of Colorado, the general conditions that were pertinent to the Air Force Academy site, and the transfer of land ownership therein.  …Also on this day, back in 2006 -- The men’s basketball team makes the Academy’s fourth appearance in the NCAA basketball tournament, losing 78-69 to Illinois.  …for the business-focused social media side of the Academy, follow...

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Weekend of March 14th and 15th

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for the Weekend of March 14th and 15th --  On this day, back in 1973 -- Operation Homecoming continues with the release of five more Air Force Academy graduates who were prisoners of war in Vietnam:  Major Kenneth Johnson (Class of ’61), and Captains Guy Gruters (’64), Howard Hill (’65), Myron Donald (’65), and Wayne Smith Jr. (’65).  Thirty Academy graduates were released during Operation Homecoming.  …Also this weekend, back in 2018 -- Captain Mark Weber, Class of ’11, is one of seven airmen killed when his HH-60 “Pave Hawk” helicopter crashes in western Iraq.  His name appears on the Graduate War Memorial on the Academy Terrazzo. ...

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Friday, March 13th

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for Friday, March 13th --   On this day, back in 1964 -- Arnold Hall hosts a performance of “The Sound of Music.”  The Rogers and Hammerstein musical was sponsored by the Allied Arts Society.  …Also on this day, back in 2022 -- The Academy women’s basketball team receives its first post-season tournament selection, earning a spot in the National Invitational Tournament.  The Falcons secured the bid with a Division I program record 18 wins and an appearance in the Mountain West Conference Tournament semifinals for the first time in school history.  … For more information about what’s coming up and what’s going down at the Academy, listen to our cadet radio station by picking...

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Thursday, March 12th

This is your official Air Force Academy History Update for Thursday, March 12th --   On this day, back in 1983 -- The 25th Academy Assembly begins.  The topic was “The U.S. Economy in Transition.”  Dr. Herbert Stein, a member of the President’s Economic Advisory Board, was the keynote speaker.    …Also on this day, back in 1996 -- Madeleine Albright, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, speaks in the Arnold Hall Theater.  The appearance was in conjunction with the John M. Olin Lecture Series in National Security and Defense Studies.  …for a behind-the-scenes look at cadet life, follow us on Instagram at AF_Academy! 

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